| Disclaimer: These characters belong to Dick Wolfe, whose pantheon of writers apparently doesn�t understand what we Jack and Nora fans do.... For Kate and Lauren, it had been the lure of the moonlight on Cape Poge Pond. Rod, ever practical, was certain that it had been hormones and years of self-sufficiency. Nora was to blame the small Cessna 310 twin- engine she�d chartered to the Vineyard; the damn thing had landed her safely, then taken off without her... �Nora!� Lauren flung her arms around her and they hugged each other tightly - favourite niece, favourite aunt, excited to be together again. Nora disengaged and held the young woman at arm�s length, beaming. Ah, but genetics was a wonderful thing! Lauren was lovely, tall -thank God - like her dad, with his dark hair and self-assured smile, and light-skinned with her mother�s grey eyes and long, straight, up-turned nose. Blessed with the Lewin legs and brains, she exuded the self-confidence of a young woman who knew that she was cherished, intelligent and attractive. She deliberately looked over the older woman, grinning. �You�ve coloured your hair - and you�re letting it grow. Excellent!� She leaned over and easily picked up the largest of her aunt�s three bags. �Have you ever thought of working out? You really shouldn�t let your figure go, Aunt No.� �My waistline is the least of my worries!� Picking up the rest of her things, Nora glanced about, looking for Kate�s car, anxious to be out of the hot sun, off the tarmac and heading home. * * * * * * * * * It had been love at first sight for Rod Urqhart. Kathleen Lewin had been in her freshman year, he in his senior. Before the frat party where they�d met was over, she�d agreed to let him see her, and within a month he�d proposed. Two weeks after he�d received his BBA, they were married in the garden of her parents� home. His brother David had been his best man, her sister Nora her bridesmaid. Kate�s parents, although gradually won over by their son-in-law, had been disappointed that their daughter had dropped out of university to marry. Furious upon hearing of the engagement, Nora had accused Kate of throwing away her future, warning her sister that she�d have nothing to fall back on when her marriage inevitably failed and she found herself with neither financial support nor an education. The two had planned to pursue careers in Law for as long as they could remember. She was sincerely concerned about Kate�s whirlwind relationship, yes, but Nora had to admit to herself that she also resented losing her best friend to someone else. Nora had continued her studies, placing in the top five of her undergraduate class and courted by several firms in her final year of Law. Always keenly interested in the philosophy and subjective aspects of her chosen field, she had instead opted for a temporary position as a lecturer in Ethics at her alma mater. In less than a year, she had been offered the post. Within five, she was an assistant professor, teaching, doing research, and publishing. Devoted to her career. Nora was appalled when Kate went to work as an office temp to help Rod through graduate school. Shortly after a large accounting firm had hired him, Kate had announced that she was pregnant. For only the second time in her life, Nora�s self-confidence had wavered. Eventually, she had confessed to Kate that she envied her easy-going, low -budget lifestyle, her happy marriage and her impending Motherhood. It had been a distinct relief to admit it, actually. When Rod saw a chance to set up his own firm on Martha�s Vineyard, both he and Kate felt that it was an opportunity to raise their family away from the negative aspects of the city. Ned and Lauren Urqhart grew up on Chappiquiddick, in a cedar-shingled Cape Cod overlooking Cape Poge Pond. Rod dropped them off at school every day. Kate, content to be a full-time mom, made the occasional trip to Boston or New York for a change of pace, to shop and to see a few shows with her sister. Home was comfortable, comforting, the Vineyard small and safe. Getting away was good, but it was always better to be home again. Every Thanksgiving, for a week every Christmas and two during the summer, Nora found refuge there as well. Initially, the profound quiet and darkness of the night had unnerved her, but she loved Kate and her family, the sense of well-being she experienced when she was with them. It was good to be a part of something solid, to feel rooted where the most exacting demands made upon her were to help prepare the meals and do her own laundry. When she needed time to herself, nobody questioned her absences. When she needed company, they never gave of themselves grudgingly. Long walks along the shore of North Neck and East Beach gave her time to think, to find balance and to centre herself again. DA Lewin of the brownstone and the 24-hour limo service loved the sound of the rain falling on the roof of her small dormer bedroom and never tired of the view from her window of the moonlight over Cape Poge Pond. It was a healthy return to reality to share the cramped upstairs bathroom with Lauren. It was rewarding to be the confidante of the niece she loved so much. Chapter 2 �I scouted out that little antique shop in Menemsha that you like so much�, Kate told Nora over coffee that evening. �Found some Chintz pieces that I�m pretty sure you don�t have. Why don�t we check them out tomorrow morning?� She smiled. � Then you can treat the three of us to lunch.� Compared to those in New York, Vineyard prices for old china were a bargain. All three women loved to prowl, whether they bought or not, and Nora�s eyes lit up at the mention of the Chintz. �Done!� she agreed, returning the smile. By two p.m., lunch and antiquing behind them, the wait for the On Time III, the little car ferry that labours between the Vineyard and Chappiquiddick, was at least an hour long. Ever pragmatic, the sisters decided that time wasted baking in line in the hot sun would be more wisely spent window shopping. Kate and Nora left Lauren behind the wheel in the queue, wandering off to make stops in several of the various small shops that hug the Edgarton waterfront. It was the first time that they�d been alone since Nora�s arrival, and although she had known that it was inevitable that Kate broach the subject, Nora was still not fully prepared when she did so. �So tell me about you and Jack.� �Nothing to tell. From all appearances, nothing ever happened.� Kate made a rude noise, whether to express disbelief or disgust, Nora wasn�t immediately sure. �Not a word? No indication whatsoever?� �Not a word. And I want it that way. It was a million years ago, and we owe each other nothing. I don�t want to go there; I�d bet that neither of us do!� Nora turned to her sister, her tone self-mocking. �I�m quite sure that Jack has no wish to revisit his reputation as the Eight Week Wonder.� She could feel her face go red. �I certainly have absolutely NO intention of sharing with him my embarrassment at having found out about him the hard way!� �But it must be so awkward....� Nora shook her head, setting her mouth in a thin line. �No. Thinking about it was awkward. I was so pissed -off with myself the night before going into Hogan Place, knowing that we�d not only see each other for the first time in over 30 years, but also because I was still the vulnerable one, the one with more to lose.� She pulled a face. �Whether I was going to be his boss or not, Jack was the one with the established professional reputation in the court room and I was only the newcomer. I was the one who would be calling the shots, yet I was as nervous as hell. An entire staff of ADAs and I was losing sleep again over Jack McCoy.� It was Nora�s turn to make the rude noise. �Academy award winning performance, girl!� She laughed. �I was Barbara Stanwyck! I was Dianne Wiest! I was so excited! I was proud of myself! Damned if he was going to ruin my big day! I walked in with Rudi, breathless, smiling like a schoolgirl. When we were introduced, I said that �Yes�, Jack and I knew each other, gave him my biggest smile and went on my way. The man is a brilliant lawyer, Kate, but he can�t be counted upon to maintain any kind of a decent relationship.� � Nora, after what he did....� But Nora�s purposeful stride had already taken her far enough ahead that the shop door had closed behind her before Kate could finish her sentence. Chapter 3 "That was Rod." Kate hung up the phone and turned to Nora. "There's a C.A. on the Vineyard for a few days who he'd like to lure here from Providence. She's young, very bright and apparently on the verge of making some kind of a commitment. She was in the office this afternoon and became quite excited when Rod said he was heading home to a barbeque," she rolled her eyes, " and wheedled an invitation for her boyfriend and herself to come along." She looked at her watch and frowned. "I'll get two more steaks from the freezer and thaw them in the microwave. Would you mind throwing a few more greens in the salad? I'll get Lauren to set two more places." And as an afterthought: "They're following Rod out so that he won't have to take them back to the Vineyard." "Easy-going Kate," thought Nora as she tore more lettuce, cut up more fruit. "Should I change?" she asked. They'd had a swim since returning from shopping and hadn't taken any particular care with what they were wearing. Both decided that decent clothes and some make-up were in order. Rod would appreciate the effort. Surprisingly little time had passed when new voices could be heard in the living room Nora was aware of Kate passing her door, then cheerfully greeting her guests as she went down the stairs. The ensuing silence told her that everyone had probably gone outside to the patio. But there was Lauren, carrying a tray; she shot a warning glance towards her aunt, and then kept her voice low as they walked towards the patio door. "Mom doesn't look very happy with Dad." "She seemed fine a few minutes ago. Didn't miss a beat when your father called about somebody else coming for dinner." "Well, she's not fine now!" Lauren smiled as though the two were fellow conspirators and rolled her eyes. "Maybe she's in shock because the woman isn't much older than I am and the 'boyfriend' is old enough to be her grandfather!" Nora held the door for her niece, resisting the urge to smile herself. Hearing the door, Kate turned quickly in Lauren and Nora's direction. Rod smiled warmly at their approach, unaware of the expression on Kate's face. "Barbara Marks," he began, "this is my daughter, Lauren," the pride evident in his voice as he spoke to the attractive red-head standing beside him, " and my wife's sister, Nora." Completely unprepared for what she had encountered, Nora could barely maintain her composure; she never even noticed the look of surprise on the young woman's face, wasn't fully aware when Marks extended her hand to take Nora's own. Behind her sister, shaking his head as if he were struggling to awaken from a nightmare, stood a wide-eyed and red-faced Jack McCoy. Rod turned to Jack, unaware of the significance of the scene playing out around him. "And this is Barbara's friend, Jack." Neither Jack nor Nora spoke. Only a moment, perhaps two, passed. Barbara Marks turned towards Jack. "Oh my God!" She laughed aloud, seeing the expression on his face and mistaking it for what was her own, had always been that of anyone, upon meeting Kate and Nora for the first time. "My God, Jack! They're twins!" Chapter 4 The Lewin Girls. Identical. Evenly matched in brains and savvy. But Nora, stereotypical first-born had always been the serious, even driven, one. Brusque to hide her vulnerability. Keeping her own counsel. What she did had to be the best - first time, every time. She had to be the best. Kathleen provided the balance in their closely-knit lives. Soft of speech and easy-going, she found pleasure in relationships rather than in academics. They adored each other, always had. Their only serious disagreement had centred on Kate's decision to marry rather than finish school. The Lewin Girls. Once one had known them even a short time there was no confusing them, for Nora's independence confused young men and her opinions grated at a time when society as a whole was still not receptive to a woman expressing herself with conviction. Kate smoothed ruffled feathers. While young men still not sure where they were going or what they wanted from life tended to feel threatened by her sister, they always knew their role, felt safe, with Kate. At some point, Nora had persuaded herself there would be a man secure enough with who he was who would understand her and the things that she wanted from life. Jack had not been the first confident, strong man she'd dated, but he had been the first who mattered. And he had mattered very much. Her intellectual match, he felt strongly about the law; like her he, too, wanted to be the best. And there was no denying the strength of the physical attraction. It had been immediate, electric, demanding constant attention. But most important to Nora had been that he was a thoughtful man in a setting where most were either too immature or too loutish for her tastes. At least, she'd believed him to be thoughtful. Chapter 5 In the split second before Jack made the first move, Nora's indecision held her back. Did she simply do what should be done in ordinary circumstances and acknowledge that they knew each other? She suspected that perhaps Jack might not want this young woman to know that. For whatever reasons, doubtless of his own making, it was obvious that the man was embarrassed. On the other hand, she felt no compunction to play games or to lie for him either. The SOB would've known immediately who Kate was when they'd been introduced. Even more irksome was that he'd obviously not mentioned it. She was aware how her appearance would have compounded the predicament that he'd placed himself in: he'd had no way of knowing who his hosts were; no way of knowing that Kate had recognized not only his name but also, from old school photos, his face; no way of knowing that Nora, of all people, was here as well. A wave of irritation and impatience washed over her. Composure regained, Jack stepped forward, grinning broadly at Nora. The boyish tilt of the head that had first caught her attention decades ago could still sometimes soften her resolve, even when they were in strong disagreement or she was frustrated with him. But not now. Not tonight. "This is certainly a surprise. Hello, Nora." She would do the civil thing, for the sake of Rod's evening, for the sake of her working environment, but she wasn't prepared to let him completely off the hook. "Indeed!" she replied quietly, arching her brows. "Good evening, Jack." Turning to Barbara Marks, exuding poise, Nora Lewin extended her hand in greeting. Chapter 6 "Thank you, Nora." Jack placed the tray of dirty cutlery on the counter beside her. Knowing full well that he was expressing his thanks for her silence and composure, she nonetheless assured him, smiling, that he needn't thank her - she frequently washed up after meals, whether he was there or not. Jack acknowledged the mockery with a smile of his own. "I meant it," he insisted. "Thank you." He picked up the dishtowel from the counter and a clean glass from the drying rack. "May I?" "There's really no need" That tilt of his head again. "I know." Their discomfort was palpable. Damn him! Despite her resolve to say nothing about the evening, Nora abandoned restraint. "Jack!" Her eyes flashed as she turned to him. "How on Earth have you managed this? Why in Hell are YOU HERE. How did you end up in this house, with ME, doing the damned dishes, for God�s sake?" A crooked Jack grin. "Because I like to dry?" Nora remained cool. Her anger, despite Jack's effort at making light of their situation, made him look away. He stared out the window, over the sink where they stood working. He was kneading the towel, now, had it balled up in both hands. His shoulders stooped, something Nora had never seen before. The man was definitely unhappy, and making a sincere effort... "Nora, I'm sorry." Oh, what the Hell? Softly, "I know, Jack." His embarrassment somewhat assuaged, Jack turned to her again. "Actually, Nora, I'd like to explain..." Her head jerked up, her anger aroused once more. "No!" She interrupted him, perhaps a bit too loudly. "It's none of my business. Please don't!" He shrugged, opened out the dishtowel, and began drying again. Still uncomfortable, but determined nonetheless to build a bridge, he spoke once more. "I'd forgotten that you were a twin." They'd shared so much! How could he have possibly forgotten something so important to her, something that was so much about who she was? Nora struggled to wrestle her hurt into submission before daring to speak. He mustn't hear it in her voice! "Life goes on. One forgets many things." "Not as many things as you might think", he said gently. Then, glancing sideways at her, "You know, Lauren reminds you a great deal of you when...." Eyes wide with disbelief, she glared up at him. "You are not to even mention that girl's name, Jack McCoy! I would KILL you if you even so much as thought about...." She was interrupted by a guffaw, for he'd intended to get a rise from her. Laying the towel down, he leaned towards her. His arm around her shoulder, he whispered in her ear. Of it's own volition and without her permission, her body responded to his touch, the flood of warmth spreading upwards and outwards. Both surprised and appalled, she found herself unable to move, rooted to where she stood, her face turned downwards so that he wouldn't see what was doubtless so obviously written there. "Do you remember..." Unheard, Barbara Marks appeared in the doorway, whatever she had been about to say to Jack forgotten once she'd seen his arm around Nora, smiling, his mouth to her ear. It was obvious to her that they were completely unaware of her presence. Icy shards shattered around them, ending the moment as quickly as it had begun. "I'm ready to go, Jack - if you are." A mere second after turning to her in surprise, Nora felt a subtle but distinct rush of pleasure upon seeing the glower on Marks' lovely, young face. It was rewarding to imagine what this woman believed she'd just seen. Though she knew that it was mischief making, Nora looked up at Jack, gracing him with the smile of an intimate. Jack never missed a beat; returning the smile he tilted his head towards her in a mock bow. "Thank you for a few very pleasant moments of shared domesticity, Ms. Lewin." "Most welcome, Mr. McCoy," returning his bow. Barely containing her fury, Marks turned and strode away. Jack appeared to follow, but once his companion was out of earshot, his head reappeared around the doorframe, his face split in a wide grin. "What I DO remember, Nora, is that you were prettier than Lauren. Much prettier." He paused - for effect? "And you still look fine, damn fine!" In spite of herself, Nora could not suppress the urge to laugh. She snorted derisively in response. "Fat lot of good it did me, McCoy!" And the startling, involuntary almost-echo inside her head, 'Fat lot of good it's doing me right now...' From the front door, brittle and hard: "Jack!" A wicked waggle of eyebrows and he was gone. Chapter 7 Taking Kate's car the next morning, Nora drove to Chappy Beach, arriving before both the tourists and the sun. It was still cold; the brisk morning air helped clear her head and her thoughts. Those mostly centred on the surprise of her arousal at Jack's touch and the fact that he'd actually been flirting with her, something that had never occurred since they'd reunited at Hogan Place. And he'd definitely been conspiratorial with her when Marks had suspected that they were up to something in the kitchen. Were it not that she was convinced that Jack might very well treat all of his women with the same low key condescension, Nora might have been able to convince herself that the incident was amusing - or believed that it suggested some kind of bond between herself and Jack. However, she knew that such an idea could easily be dismissed as a romantic and unrealistic notion at best. Despite the morning dampness, Nora sat on the boardwalk that was rolled out every spring to protect the dune grass from trampling by the hundreds who used the beach every day during the summer. She tightly clutched the collar of her jacket against the stiff breeze that had sprung up as the sun began to rise. Romantic notions were fine things, but reality was another. One remembered past loves with either resentment, acceptance, or - the good ones - with gratitude. Seldom did one pine for what was lost. Time only took one farther and farther away from what 'might' have been. Life and living day to day were much more important. Practical reality aside, however, it had been almost two years since Nora had been appointed Interim D.A., and her last relationship had ended because the man she'd been seeing, a fellow professor, hadn't been able to cope with her advancement. Jack's touch had felt wonderful and it would be all too easy to fantasize about having him as a lover once more. But it was not memories of their lovemaking or of time shared with Jack, suppressed for so long that their existence had automatically been forgotten, which flooded her consciousness. Other memories, savage, brutal, swept over her, tore ragged holes in her throat, forced unwelcome and unbidden tears to her eyes. Wrestling them back into the small, cold space at her core where they were always contained had become more and more difficult for Nora as she had approached, then begun, her passage through middle age -and working with Jack had compounded that difficulty. Not, however, because of any feeling for him that might possibly remain, but because of the lost and frightened thing that more and more often resisted being relegated to its dark and solitary hiding place. Keeping yet again a decades-old promise to herself, she refused to cry. Strong, self-contained Nora Lewin never cried, even when there was nobody to know that she had failed to maintain self-control. The wind blew over her, across Cape Poge Pond and the Vineyard, and onto the mainland shores of Cape Cod, carrying with it the secret of her momentary loss of composure. Chapter Eight Rod�s Jeep was leaving the mouth of the long, sandy driveway as Nora was turning in. He stopped, signalled to her, and both rolled down their window. He thanked her for being such a good sport about last night�s surprise guests, then: �Barbara�s friend, Jack McCoy, called when you were out. Asked for you. Kate told him you�d gone walking. He asked if you�d return his call as soon as you got in.� It was obvious that his curiosity had been piqued. She knew that, unless she�d conferred with Nora first, Kate would never tell him anything about the significance of the evening. �I promise that I�ll talk to you about it when you get in tonight, Rod. You�re right to think that something is up. But it�s old news - nothing for you to worry about. Jack and I share a little history, that�s all. And it really IS history.� She smiled to reassure him. �I honestly don�t see how any of it could possibly interfere with your plans for Marks.� The scent of freshly brewed coffee and hot cinnamon rolls greeted Nora�s return. One look at Kate�s face told her that her sister had been more than a little eager for her to get in. �Nora! My God, girl, I thought you�d NEVER get back! Jack McCoy� - she spoke his name slowly and with relish - �called for you this morning! He wouldn�t leave a message, either. Said it was extremely important that you get in touch with him right away.� She smiled coyly at Nora, who�d poured herself a coffee before sitting down. �What did you two talk about when you were in the kitchen together last night?� It was as good a way to broach the subject as any, Nora thought, reaching for a cinnamon roll.... The phone rang once; Lauren, who had picked up in her room, called down the stairs to her aunt. It was Jack McCoy again; did she want to take the call? �I�ll leave� Kate told Nora, standing up, �to give you some privacy,� and before Nora could protest that it wasn�t necessary, she�d scooted out. �Good morning, Jack. Sorry that I didn�t get back to you sooner,� and the white lie �but I only now got back from my walk.� �I�m just glad that you�re there.� Nora�s eyes widened; what the hell was this about? �Nora, I need your help. I�m at one of the condos on Katama Beach, Number Six. Would you please come over right away?� The surprises just kept coming! She had to pause for a moment to take this all in. What WAS Jack up to? �Nora?� Jack sounded anxious, in need of a reply. �Please. It would be really helpful.� Well, this one would have to be followed through to its logical conclusion! �You�re not going to tell me why?� Then, �Jack, what�s wrong? Wheres your friend Marks? Can�t she help you?� A long pause. �No, she can�t help me. Please, Nora...� Too proud to beg, but certainly the most heartfelt request she�d ever heard from Jack McCoy! �Alright,� she sighed audibly, �I�ll get Kate to drive me to the ferry parking and I�ll catch a taxi...� �NO!� The intensity of his reaction startled her. Collecting himself, he reiterated calmly, �No, not a taxi. Please, Nora, couldn�t you borrow a car from your sister or her husband?� �Rod�s gone to work. I don�t know whether Kate will need her car or not, Jack. I can�t presume that I can just take it.� She considered a moment. �Look. I�ll do my best. You�re not going to bleed to death or anything before I arrive, are you? Are you sure you don�t need an ambulance?� Another pause. �No� and was that a groan? �No, but given the circumstances, bleeding to death might be preferable.� And again, with resignation: �Please, Nora.� As she�d suspected, the queue for the On Time III was backed up with Chappy residents heading to work. She�d been right to have wanted to leave the car and take a taxi on the other side. Worried about Jack, yet more than a little annoyed, Nora found herself drumming her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel - and thinking what were definitely unromantic thoughts. �All summer people,� Nora thought to herself as she pulled up to Number Six. Strange that there was no vehicle in the drive, for Jack had told Rod that he and Marks had come over in a rental they�d made in Providence. Had she gone out and Jack, having no way to contact her, turned to Nora for help instead? One of the front windows stood open and Nora could hear the echo of the bell a when she rang. Nobody came, however. Checking the address she�d written down against the number on the door, and secretly cursing herself AND Jack McCoy, she rang again. Immediately this time, the door opened, although only slightly, and Jack stuck his head out from behind it, face turning red when they made eye contact. �Jesus, Nora, I�m glad that you�re here!� |
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| V i n e y a r d S u r p r i s e s |
| by Gwen |